Best and Worst Airports you have been to (Overall Experience)
Jan 16, 2013, 5:23 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 612
It's all relative. And of course it depends on what terminal you are in at any specific airport. If you are in Terminal 5 at Heathrow it is awesome, the rest, not so much. If you are in Terminal 2 at SFO, amazing. The rest, yeah, no. In Madrid, the newest terminal is gorgeous. The others, not really. When we were in Budapest we went into one terminal in which we felt like we were transported back to the 1800s, then left out of a different one that was pretty good. Just depends.
Jan 16, 2013, 8:22 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
I'm with you on LHR, if I had a stopover of a few hours then it would probably be my #1 choice in Europe. As you mentioned, lounges, shopping, dining (good pubs), etc.
Jan 16, 2013, 8:48 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Not a fan of CDG.
Not a fan of PEK.
Jan 16, 2013, 9:59 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Glad to see there are at least a couple of us. I always have a shopping list for Lhr. Some of the prices really are better than high street. Jo Malone for instance. Even the connections between terminals have improved. If only ther was an easy way to transport between terminals later at night when they close the lower level I'd be set.
Jan 19, 2013, 7:07 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,368
LHR has had a bad reputation in the past (much of it deserved!) but T5 is now good as any major terminal in the US or Europe.
Jan 19, 2013, 9:44 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: M&M, AAdvantage, FlyingBlue
Posts: 93
Paris airports. CDG just plain sucks, make no bones about it. Paris-Beauvais (BVA) really isn't too bad (for an ultra-budget Ryanair airport ), but it's so far away and there is no mass transit save for a private shuttle that leaves at certain intervals throughout the day from Porte Maillot. I haven't visited Orly yet, so I can't comment on that one.
), but it's so far away and there is no mass transit save for a private shuttle that leaves at certain intervals throughout the day from Porte Maillot. I haven't visited Orly yet, so I can't comment on that one.ORY is terrible too.
Jan 19, 2013, 12:31 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Really? I flew out of BVA like in 2007 once (also it was my first time with Ryanair), and it was a surreal experience. It was peak summer time (beginning of August) and literally people could not even fit inside the terminal. It was so cramped... everything was packed from the gates to the entrance of the building itself (and there were not delayed/cancelled flights or anything out of the ordinary). Maybe they got a new terminal, but it was just a horrible experience at that time.
ORY is terrible too.
ORY is terrible too.
It's not an avant-garde international airport, but it'll do just fine for RYANAIR. Unfortunately, my AAdvantage PLT/oneworld Sapphire card couldn't save me from the mob here. The fact that there's no mass transit (save for the Porte Maillot shuttle) is a real bummer. Maybe the fact that I caught a morning flight has something to do with my more positive review; since I flew out so early, maybe my experience wasn't representative of most. I'd fly through BVA again.
Jan 19, 2013, 11:01 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR-OGG
Programs: UA 1K, 2mm
Posts: 160
I'm surprised that CDG doesn't get more "worst" votes. Aside from the dreaded remote busing, the signage is awful and French cabbies can care less whether they drop you off at the correct terminal (personally, I think they enjoy screwing with you).
The best? PBH in Bhutan. Only a single gate and hand written signs. Plus you get to anticipate that amazing vertical take off.
The best? PBH in Bhutan. Only a single gate and hand written signs. Plus you get to anticipate that amazing vertical take off.
Jan 20, 2013, 11:24 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: UA 1K, MR Bonvoy Bonzaiiiii, National EE
Posts: 622
Best: SIN, HKG, NRT, AMS (same picks as everyone else)
Worst:
HKT: Small terminal crammed with rude Chinese and Russian tourists who pretend they can't speak English when they cut you in line and immigration officers asking for bribes.
BOM: The transfer and security here is a joke.
MCT: They have a full-fledged Irish bar with no alcohol at all... Should have read that it's the "Irish Bar Experience"... such a tease, no wonder it is empty all the time.
MNL: Connection nightmare if you're going from T1 -> T2 or vice-versa.
And the worst airport is a tie between JED and DMM... Going through immigration in either of these is the absolute worst and took me 3+ hours standing in line once. I prefer now to fly into BAH and take a car over to DMM.
Worst:
HKT: Small terminal crammed with rude Chinese and Russian tourists who pretend they can't speak English when they cut you in line and immigration officers asking for bribes.
BOM: The transfer and security here is a joke.
MCT: They have a full-fledged Irish bar with no alcohol at all... Should have read that it's the "Irish Bar Experience"... such a tease, no wonder it is empty all the time.
MNL: Connection nightmare if you're going from T1 -> T2 or vice-versa.
And the worst airport is a tie between JED and DMM... Going through immigration in either of these is the absolute worst and took me 3+ hours standing in line once. I prefer now to fly into BAH and take a car over to DMM.
Jan 20, 2013, 2:22 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,368
I really don't think there's any need for discussion about what is the worst airport in the world. It has to be BOM - especially for transfers. After two terrible connection experiences there I now will fly any route to avoid it.
Jan 20, 2013, 5:13 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
I do recall having difficulty finding a place to have a drink there, so it would certainly rate low on my list of airports.
Jan 20, 2013, 5:16 pm
#60
Used to be highman123
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,541
It's small but I've never come across the other issues. Phuket in general has more than its fair share of nasty tourists, maybe I'm just oblivious to them.
I do recall having difficulty finding a place to have a drink there, so it would certainly rate low on my list of airports.
I do recall having difficulty finding a place to have a drink there, so it would certainly rate low on my list of airports.